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2023 Planting Calendar: When to Start Vegetable Seeds | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Planting Calendar for Houston, TX

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you're already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost but also many are frost-tolerant—and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they can still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot tempertures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on December 8 (at HOUSTON-PORT, TX climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Oct 20-Nov 24
Moon Oct 20-28, Nov 13-24
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Sep 15-Oct 13
Moon Sep 30-Oct 13
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Sep 29-Oct 20
Moon Sep 29, Oct 14-20
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Sep 8-15
Moon Sep 14-15
Frost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Sep 29
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Sep 8-15
Moon Sep 14-15
Frost Sep 29-Oct 6
Moon Sep 29
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Sep 22-29
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Sep 1- 8
Frost Sep 15-22
Moon Sep 15-22
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Sep 15-Oct 13
Moon Sep 15-29
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Dec 22-Jan 5
Moon Dec 27-Jan 5
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Sep 22-Oct 6
Moon Sep 22-29
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Sep 29
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Oct 6-27
Moon Oct 14-27
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Sep 29
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Sep 29
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Oct 27-Nov 10
Moon Oct 29-Nov 10
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Oct 20-Nov 10
Moon Oct 20-28
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Sep 29
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Oct 6-20
Moon Oct 6-13
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 1 (at HOUSTON-PORT, TX climate station, elevation 19 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4- 6
Frost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 20-22
Frost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Nov 10
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 15-19
Mar 1
BasilFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Oct 27
BeetsN/AFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 15-19
Frost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 6- 8
Mar 15
Bell PeppersFrost Dec 21-Jan 4
Moon Dec 23-Jan 4
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
N/ASep 15
Bok ChoyFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Apr 12
BroccoliFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4- 6
Frost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 20-Mar 1
Frost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Oct 6
Brussels SproutsFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Nov 23-Dec 7
Moon Nov 23-Dec 7
Frost Oct 26-Nov 9
Moon Oct 26-Nov 8
Sep 1
CabbageFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4- 6
Frost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 20-Mar 1
Frost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Aug 25
CantaloupesFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 20-22
Frost Mar 1-15
Moon Mar 1- 7
Frost Mar 8-15
Sep 1
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 6-15
Sep 29
CauliflowerFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Feb 22-Mar 8
Moon Feb 22-Mar 7
N/ASep 29
CeleryFrost Dec 7-21
Moon Dec 7
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Mar 1
Moon Mar 1
Sep 29
ChivesFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4- 6
Frost Feb 8-15
Frost Feb 8-15
Oct 13
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 1-15
Moon Mar 1- 7
Mar 22
CollardsFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 20-Mar 1
Frost Feb 8-15
Sep 29
CornN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Sep 22
CucumbersFrost Feb 8-15
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Sep 29
DillN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-Mar 15
Moon Feb 22-Mar 7
Oct 13
EggplantsFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4- 6
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
N/ASep 29
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Mar 15
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Sep 29
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Dec 21-Jan 4
Moon Dec 23-Jan 4
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4- 6
Frost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 20-Mar 1
Frost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Mar 15
KohlrabiFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Feb 8-15
Frost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Mar 15
LettuceFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Feb 8-15
Frost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Mar 15
OkraFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1- 5
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
Sep 29
Onion SetsN/AFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 6-15
N/ASep 1
OreganoFrost Dec 21-Jan 18
Moon Dec 23-Jan 6
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 21-22
N/ASep 29
ParsleyFrost Dec 21-Jan 4
Moon Dec 23-Jan 4
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Feb 1-Mar 8
Moon Feb 1- 5, Feb 20-Mar 7
Sep 22
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 6- 8
Sep 1
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Mar 15
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 6-15
Sep 29
PumpkinsFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 20-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Aug 25
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 6- 8
Oct 13
RosemaryFrost Dec 7-21
Moon Dec 7
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
N/AOct 13
SageFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4- 6
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 21-22
N/ASep 22
SpinachFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Feb 8-15
Frost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 1- 5
Mar 15
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-20
Aug 25
Swiss ChardFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 20-Mar 1
Frost Feb 8-Mar 1
Moon Feb 20-Mar 1
Mar 15
ThymeFrost Dec 21-Jan 4
Moon Dec 23-Jan 4
Frost Mar 8-15
N/ASep 15
TomatillosFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 21-Feb 1
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 21-29
N/ASep 22
TomatoesFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4- 6
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
N/ASep 8
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 1- 8
Moon Feb 6- 8
Nov 10
WatermelonsFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 20-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Mar 8-15
Sep 8
Winter SquashFrost Feb 8-15
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Aug 18
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Feb 8-15
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 21-22
Oct 6
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